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Community Corner

Clowning Around: Tinley Woman Paints on a Smile For Hospital Patients

Who says hospital visits can't include a little gentle humor? Not this Tinley Park resident.

Fresh bouquets and the latest magazines are popular gifts to bring when visiting a friend in the hospital.

Not so for 74-year-old resident Alice Swift, who totes plastic flowers, toys, bubbles and other trinkets in her bag of tricks. And rather than visiting friends, she visits perfect strangers.

Swift, a trained clown and performer, regularly volunteers her time and talent at Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet. Dressed as “Ali the Clown” in full head-to-toe comic attire and matching size 22 shoes, she walks the hospital’s pediatric and physical therapy wings to entertain and chat with patients and their families.

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“I do some simple magic tricks, play silly games and pranks ... Nothing grand, but they seem to cheer people up,” Swift said.

Her interest in the hobby—one she doesn't want "all kinds of attention" for—was inspired by the care given to her family 30 years ago when her son suffered a football injury that left him a quadriplegic.

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“So many people were extremely kind and considerate to us during that time. I’ll never forget how much I appreciated their efforts,” she said of the years in the hospital and subsequent rehabilitation. “This is my way of giving back.”

Swift came across several women who were involved in clown ministry—the practice of using the fun-loving characters to serve others—and decided to follow suit. She first enrolled in clown classes at Daley College in Chicago. Then, she combined her good humor with her love of volunteerism at area hospitals and nursing homes.

Swift became so good at her craft, however, that she was soon tapped to perform at corporate parties and festivals. She even became a fixture at pre-game events for Chicago Bulls home games.

But now two decades later, Swift only puts on her sparkly red nose for her original purpose—lifting spirits.

She begins her hospital rounds at Provena by first checking in at the reception desk to inquire if any patients are in need of a special cheering up. If not, she hams it up, room to room, bringing along a bubble blower, her repertoire of knock-knock jokes and of course, her upbeat personality.

“Kids like to visit with Ali the Clown, but oftentimes it’s the parents who really appreciate it,” she said. “It provides a pleasant diversion from being in the hospital.”

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